Un  S,0,UI,HE£   REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


D    000870362 


A    S  K  E  T  C  H 


OF    THE 


LIFE  AND  SERVICES 


OF 


(Dtl)ii  ijollani  Wlliants, 


READ    BEFORE    THE 


ltstormtl  Jlotiek 

-'  ^b 


ON  THURSDAY  EVENING,  MARCH  6,  1851. 


BY    OSMOND    TIFFANY. 


BALTIMORE: 
PRINTED    BY    JOHN    MURPHY    &    CO 

No.    1  7  «    MARKET    STREET. 
1851. 


OF    THE 


LIFE  AND  SERVICES 


OF 


(6m.  (Dtljo  Ijollanft  lilliatns, 


READ    BEFORE    THE 


iatorical 


ON  THUBSDAT  EVENING,  MARCH  6,  1851. 

BY    OSMOND    TIFFANY 


BALTIMORE: 
PRINTED    BY    JOHN    M'URPHY    &    CO 

No.    178   MARKET    STREET. 
1851. 


MR.  PRESIDENT: 

THE  events  of  the  American  Revolution  are  so  nearly  con- 
nected with  our  own  times,  that  the  actors  in  that  great  struggle 
seem  yet  to  be  to  us  as  living  men.  We  open  the  portal  of  the 
past  century,  and  are  with  those  who  once  like  ourselves, 
breathed  and  thought,  and  who  now,  lie  not  silent  or  forgotten 
in  the  tomb. 

Their  deeds  live  in  our  memory;  their  examples  are  glorious 
as  of  old:  their  words  of  hope  in  dark  hours,  and  of  their  joy  in 
success,  still  burn  before  us: — they  have  become  the  great  histo- 
rians of  their  age.  Among  this  band  of  gallant  men,  who  gave 
themselves  with  all  their  soul  to  liberty,  I  could  name  none  of 
our  native  State,  who  displayed  a  more  patient,  disinterested, 
and  zealous  spirit,  than  the  pure  and  chivalrous  Otho  Holland 
Williams. 

He  was  born  in  the  county  of  Prince  George's,  in  March, 
1749.  His  parentage  was  highly  respectable,  his  ancestors  emi- 
grating from  Wales,  and  he  being  of  the  second  generation  after 
their  settlement  in  Maryland. 

Had  his  days  been  wholly  passed  in  the  enjoyment  of  peace, 
his  influence  would  not  have  been  lost.  He  would  still  have 
left  to  his  friends  the  same  invaluable  legacy  of  a  good  name, 
but  it  was  his  fortune  to  deserve  and  gain  a  wider  celebrity. 
He  was  his  father's  oldest  son,  and  in  the  year  succeeding  his 
birth,  his  home  was  changed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Conococheague 
Creek,  in  Frederick,  near  Washington  county.  In  that  beau- 
tiful region  of  country,  watered  by  the  stream  that  lends  its 
name  to  the  valley,  were  spent  the  few  short  years  of  his  boy- 
hood. There  he  learned  to  love  the  aspect  of  fields  and  groves, 


the  memory  of  which  was  his  solace  long  after,  in  many  dark 
and  trying  hours,  for  we  find  in  the  midst  of  the  toils  of  the 
camp,  that  his  spirit  yearns  for  rural  peace  and  solitude.  The 
love  of  nature  is  ever  ennobling;  it  perhaps  contributed  to  form 
the  character  of  the  future  hero. 

It  is  a  favorite  theme  with  biographers  to  dwell  on  parental 
precepts,  especially  on  those  of  the  mother.  We  have  no  anec- 
dotes of  this  period,  but  we  may  yield  to  a  happy  idea,  and 
imagine  young  Williams  listening  to  the  accents  of  a  mother's 
lip,  with  the  true  deference  which  he  always  paid  to  goodness. 
We  may  see  him,  among  his  little  playmates  on  his  father's 
farm,  already  showing  those  traits  of  character,  which  guided 
him  in  the  path  to  honor:  that  love  of  truth,  that  physical  and 
moral  courage,  which  won  in  time  the  confidence  of  his  great 
commander-in-chief,  who  had  himself  early  shone  in  the  same 
qualities.  We  may  picture  him  crossing  the  fields,  at  early 
morning  hours,  to  the  rustic  school,  there  to  recite  the  simple 
lesson,  and  to  be  instructed  in  his  mother  tongue,  which  he 
afterwards  used  with  the  grace  of  a  scholar.  But  the  sunshine 
of  his  boyhood  was  soon  clouded — his  father,  Joseph  Williams, 
died,  leaving  but  a  small  property  to  seven  children;  and  Otho  at 
the  age  of  thirteen,  was  thrown  upon  his  own  exertions.  He  was 
placed  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Ross,  in  the  Clerk's  Office 
of  Frederick  county.  Here  he  remained  several  years,  dili- 
gently occupied  in  studying  the  duties  of  the  bureau,  and  when 
he  was  duly  qualified,  took  charge  of  it  himself,  for  a  while, 
until  removed  to  a  similar  situation  in  Baltimore.  It  was  in 
this  vocation  that  he  acquired  those  habits  of  regularity  and 
method,  which  were  so  signally  manifested  when  called  to  situ- 
ations of  the  highest  trust. 

His  appearance  at  this  time,  when  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  is  thus  described  by  his  friend  and  fellow-soldier,  Gen. 
Samuel  Smith:  "He  was,"  says  the  writer,  "about  six  feet 
high,  elegantly  formed;  his  whole  appearance  and  conduct 
much  beyond  his  years;  his  manner,  such  as  made  friends  of 
all  who  knew  him." 

Thus  does  he  appear  before  us,  while  to  use  Burke's  apt  ex- 
pression, he  was  yet  in  the  gristle,  and  had  not  hardened  into 


the  bone  of  manhood.  But  he  was  already  a  man  in  his  high 
sense  of  honor,  his  unsullied  integrity,  and  the  polish  of  his 
address:  if  he  had  not  won  laurels,  he  had  acquired  the  esteem 
of  the  worthy. 

Thus  endowed,  we  learn  that  he  entered  into  commercial 
life,  in  Fredericktown,  shortly  before  the  commencement  of  the 
American  Revolution.  There  is  little  doubt,  that  had  this 
course  been  pursued,  it  would  have  been  crowned  with  eminent 
success,  for  he  afterwards  united,  to  an  extraordinary  degree, 
military  genius  with  scientific  business  habits.  But  when  the 
clouds,  which  had  so  long  been  gathering  over  the  sun 
of  peace,  burst  at  last,  all  thought  of  pursuing  quiet  trade 
was  abandoned.  The  spirit  that  prompted  Putnam  to  reverse 
the  Scriptural  promise,  and  beat  the  plough-share  into  the 
sword,  kindled  kindred  feelings  in  the  breast  of  Williams.  A 
company  was  formed  in  Fredericktown,  and  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  Price,  inarched  for  Boston.  Williams  might 
easily  have  obtained  the  captaincy,  but  with  the  modesty  which 
always  kept  pace  with  his  success,  he  declined  to  press  a  claim 
to  command,  saying  to  the  committee,  that  though  ambitious  to 
lead,  he  was  willing  to  serve.  This  spirit  uniformly  attended 
him — he  deferred  cheerfully  to  authority  himself,  and  exacted 
obedience  from  those  whom  he  commanded.  He  was  a  strict 
disciplinarian,  as  all  good  officers  are,  but  governed  his  own 
conduct  by  his  rigid  adherence  to  the  rules  of  superiors.  In 
reporting  an  officer  to  Gen.  Greene,  for  disobedience,  he  says: 
"  When  orders  are  received  with  contempt,  and  rejected  with 
insolence,  examples  are  requisite  to  re-establish  subordination, 
the  basis  of  discipline." 

But,  before  attempting  to  trace  the  career  of  the  soldier,  it 
will  be  by  no  means  uninteresting,  or  uninstructive,  to  depict 
the  man.  His  letters  to  his  family  and  friends,  are  true  mirrors 
in  which  he  was  reflected,  and  we  cannot  more  fully  present 
him,  than  by  a  few  sentences  from  his  correspondence.  Indeed, 
I  have  found  his  letters  so  graphic  and  elegant  in  style,  so  illustra- 
tive of  any  subject  on  which  they  touch,  that  I  have  made  large 
extracts,  believing  that  they  would  be  of  much  greater  historic 
value,  concerning  the  scenes  and  actions  of  which  they  treat. 


than  any  description  of  mine.  His  views  of  life  were  most 
cheerful  and  happy — he  writes  to  his  brother  thus: 

"  I  have  seen  a  great  variety  of  life,  and  profess  most  seri- 
ously, that  there  is  more  true  felicity  to  be  found  in  a  bare  com- 
petence and  domestic  industry,  than  in  any  other  circumstances. 
My  observations  on  others  confirm  this  opinion,  and  I  wish  to 
have  an  opportunity  of  experiencing  the  satisfaction  which  I  am 
sure  is  to  be  found  in  rural  employments.  We  should  not  hope 
to  be  wealthy,  or  fear  to  be  poor;  we  never  shall  want;  and 
whoever  considers  the  true  source  of  his  happiness,  will  find  it 
in  a  very  great  degree,  arising  from  a  delicate  concern  for  those 
dependent  upon  him,  useful  employments,  and  the  approbation 
of  his  friends." 

He  was  ambitious,  but  his  ambition  never  led  him  astray: 
and  through  all  circumstances  of  life,  he  was  governed  by  a 
deeply  religious  faith.  His  own  words  precisely  express  his 
feelings:  "It  would  give  me  pain,  if  the  world  should  believe 
any  person,  with  the  same  advantages,  may  do  more  than  I 
may.  Fortune  does  a  great  deal  in  all  military  adventures,  and, 
therefore,  I  am  not  to  say  whether  this  reproach  will  come  upon 
me  or  not.  But  you  may  rely  upon  it,  my  good  friend,  discre- 
tion and  fortitude  shall  govern  my  conduct;  and  in  the  interim, 
I  commit  myself  to  that  Power  whose  eye  is  over  all  his  works, 
and  by  whose  goodness  I  have  been  preserved  in  numerous 
perils. ' ' 

We  do  not  learn  that  Williams  was  engaged  in  any  very 
noted  service  until  the  following  year,  but  he  acquired  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  superiors — among  others  Gen.  Gates, 
whose  friendship  often  professed,  was  afterwards  proven.  In 
1776  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major,  in  a  rifle  regiment 
formed  from  Maryland  and  Virginia  troops,  and  we  learn  that  his 
first  trial  in  actual  battle,  occurred  at  the  fall  of  Fort  Washing- 
ton, on  the  Hudson  River.  He  was  stationed  in  a  wood  with  his 
troops,  in  advance  of  the  Fort,  and  wras  attacked  by  the  Hessian 
allies.  They  were  several  times  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  but 
being  reinforced,  they  succeeded  in  beating  back  Williams  and 
his  company  into  the  Fort,  where  all  were  eventually  taken 
prisoners.  The  enemy  accomplished  this  by  reinforcements,  as 


has  been  already  mentioned,  and  from  the  unfortunate  condition 
of  the  rifles  of  the  attacked  party.  By  long  continued  arid  in- 
cessant fire,  these  had  become  so  foul  as  to  be  nearly  useless, 
and  Williams  reluctantly  retreated  at  the  last  moment,  only  to 
delay  capture  for  a  short  period.  The  feelings  of  an  officer, 
when  obliged  to  yield  his  sword,  and  suffer  an  imprisonment, 
he  knows  not  how  long  or  cruel  it  may  be,  must  be  sufficiently 
agonizing  to  feel  that  utter  inactivity  is  forced  upon  him,  at  the 
very  instant  that  his  country  is  most  in  need  of  the  services  he 
would  cheerfully  render.  In  the  last  attack  of  the  Hessians, 
Williams  received  a  severe  and  dangerous  shot  wound  in  the 
groin,  though  he  entirely  recovered  from  its  effects  in  due  time. 
His  career  was  suddenly  checked,  and  he  was  doomed  to  lan- 
guish fifteen  months,  before  he  again  saw  the  sun  shine  on  his 
freedom .  The  first  half  of  his  captivity,  though  painful  enough 
to  an  ardent  patriot,  was  not  total  eclipse. 

He  was  placed  on  Long  Island  on  parole,  and  among  many 
annoyances,  there  occurred  some  incidents  which  cheered  him 
in  captivity.  He  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Major  Ackland.  a 
British  officer,  and  they  became  firm  friends.  The  elegant  per- 
son, and  finished  manners  of  Williams,  procured  him  access  to 
circles  as  a  gentleman,  which  would  have  closed  to  him  solely 
as  a  prisoner;  and  under  the  guidance  of  Ackland,  visiting  the 
opposite  city  of  New  York,  he  sometimes  appeared  in  the 
fashionable  houses,  which  reversing  the  present  order ,were  then 
measured  on  the  scale  of  style,  by  proximity  to  the  battery. 

It  is  related  that  on  one  occasion,  after  Williams  had  been 
dining  with  Lady  Ackland,  his  good  friend  the  Major,  and  he, 
sallied  forth  for  a  ball,  and  that  although  the  company  were 
much  struck  with  the  elegant  figures  and  demeanor  of  the  two 
friends,  and  although  the  Briton  made  all  effort  to  introduce  the 
captive,  the  gentlemen  of  the  party  could  not  forget  the  enemy 
to  welcome  the  stranger,  and  the  ladies  treated  him  with  extreme 
coldness.  Ackland  finding  that  all  his  efforts  were  vain,  took 
Williams  by  the  arm  and  led  him  from  the  room,  saying, 
"  Come,  this  company  is  too  exclusive  for  us."  This  was  not 
the  only  occasion  on  which  Major  Ackland  proved  his  friendship 
and  sympathy  for  Americans. 


8 

His  fate  was  a  melancholy  one,  and  such  as  he  little  deserved. 
After  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  when  he  had  returned  to 
his  own  country,  on  the  occasion  of  a  dinner,  the  valor  of 
American  soldiers  became  the  subject  of  conversation.  On  their 
merit  being  denied,  Ackland  defended  them,  and  in  the  warmth 
of  argument  with  a  brother  officer,  to  some  assertion,  replied  that 
he  lied.  The  insult  was  of  course  unpardonable,  and  could 
only  be  settled  by  a  duel,  in  which  he  was  shot  dead. 

During  the  period  of  Williams'  confinement  on  Long  Island, 
it  was  the  pleasure  of  some  of  the  British  officers  to  stroll  among 
the  American  prisoners,  and  tauntingly  ask  them  in  Avhat  trade 
they  had  been  employed.  When  Williams  was  asked  this  im- 
pertinent question  by  a  titled  officer,  he  replied,  that  he  had 
been  bred  in  that  situation  which  had  taught  him  to  rebuke  and 
punish  insolence,  and  that  the  questioner  would  have  ample 
proof  of  his  apprenticeship  on  a  repetition  of  his  offence.  The 
noble  did  not  attempt  it,  or  demand  satisfaction  for  the  contempt 
with  which  he  had  been  treated,  but  it  is  probable,  that  through 
his  instrumentality,  Williams  was  accused  of  carrying  on  a  secret 
correspondence  with  Washington.  There  was,  indeed,  some 
apparent  foundation  for  suspicion  in  Williams'  superior  ability, 
and  from  the  respect  paid  to  him  by  his  fellow-prisoners.  He 
was  seized,  and  without  one  word  of  defence  on  his  part  being 
listened  to,  without  being  suffered  to  confront  his  accusers,  he 
was  suddenly  removed  to  the  provost  jail  in  New  York. 

Here  he  was  delivered  to  the  tender  mercies  of  harsh  turnkeys, 
and  confined  in  a  room  about  sixteen  feet  square  that  was  seldom 
visited  by  the  breath  of  heaven,  and  always  remaining  in  a  state 
of  loathsome  filth.  Among  other  prisoners,  was  the  celebrated 
Ethan  Allen,  and  he  shared  the  miserable  den,  in  which 
Williams  was  confined.  Their  only  visitors  were  wretches  who 
came  to  glut  their  brutal  curiosity,  and  to  torture  their  victims 
with  loud  sentiments  of  delight  in  the  anticipation  of  seeing  them 
hanged.  Letters  complaining  of  such  cruel  treatment  were  re- 
peatedly but  vainly  addressed  to  the  commandant  of  New  York, 
and  they  thus  suffered  for  seven  or  eight  months. 

Their  health  was  much  impaired,  for  their  food  was  of  the 
vilest  sort,  and  scarce  enough  to  keep  soul  and  body  together, 


and  to  add  to  these  discomforts,  the  anxiety  that  preyed  upon 
their  minds,  was  terrible  in  the  extreme.  The  naturally  fine 
constitution  of  Williams  was  much  impaired,  and  he  never  re- 
covered entirely  from  the  effects  of  his  imprisonment.  But  he 
is  still  full  of  hope,  to  which,  though  not  written  at  the  time  of 
his  incarceration,  his  own  words  to  one  of  his  family  thus  bear 
witness:  "I  flatter  myself  I  shall  still  see  a  day,  a  prosperous 
day,  when  we  shall  all  be  assembled  in  some  agreeable  spot  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Hagerstown,  where  we  shah1  mutually  em- 
brace each  other,  with  joy  and  tenderness,  and  cheerfully  re- 
count the  tedious  hours  which  the  distresses  of  our  country 
oblige  us  to  pass  in  absence,  and  when  the  dangers  that  are 
passed  will  serve  as  a  subject  for  an  evening  tale."  But  finally, 
the  doors  of  his  prison-house  were  thrown  asunder  and  he  was 
free. 

After  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  Gen.  Gates  proved  his 
friendship  by  stipulating  positively  for  Williams'  release,  and  he 
was  exchanged  for  his  old  friend  Major  Ackland,  who  had  been 
taken  prisoner  with  the  British  army.  Gen.  Phillips,  the  com- 
mandant of  New  York,  anxious  to  offer  some  excuse  for  the 
rigor  with  which  Williams  had  been  treated,  asked  him  to  dine 
with  him,  but  the  invitation  was  properly  rejected.  During  his 
captivity  his  native  State  had  not  been  unmindful  of  him,  he 
had  been  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  6th  regiment  of  the 
Maryland  line,  and  he  joined  the  army  in  New  Jersey,  shortly 
before  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  fought  in  June,  1778.  The 
result  of  this  engagement  is  well  known:  it  gave  great  en- 
couragement to  the  American  troops,  and  Col.  Williams  has 
left  a  little  description  of  the  joy  with  which  the  following  anni- 
versary of  Independence  was  celebrated,  a  joy  enhanced  by  the 
favorable  issue  of  the  late  conflict,  and  moreover,  is  one  of  the 
few  instances  on  record  in  which  the  day  has  been  celebrated 
without  a  patriotic  oration. 

His  letter  is  dated  Camp  New  Brunswick,  July  6th,  1778: — 
11  On  the  4th  inst.  the  anniversary  of  American  Independence 
was  celebrated  in  the  following  manner.  At  3  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  a  cannon  was  discharged  as  a  signal  for  the  troops  to 
get  under  arms,  half  an  hour  afterwards,  the  second  fire  was  a 
2 


10 

signal  for  the  troops  to  begin  their  march,  and  at  four  the  third 
signal  was  given,  for  the  troops  to  drawn  up  in  two  lines,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Raritan,  which  they  did  in  beautiful  order.  A 
flag  was  then  hoisted  for  the  feu  de  joie  to  begin.  Thirteen 
pieces  of  artillery  were  then  discharged,  and  a  running  fire  of 
small  arms  went  through  the  lines,  beginning  at  the  right  of  the 
front  line,  catching  the  left,  and  ending  at  the  right  of  the 
second  line.  The  field  pieces  in  the  intervals  of  brigades,  were 
discharged  in  the  running  fire,  thus  affording  a  harmonious  and 
uniform  display  of  music  and  fire,  which  was  thrice  well  exe- 
cuted. After  the  feu  de  joie  the  general  officers  and  officers 
commanding  brigades,  dined  with  his  Excellency.  Yesterday 
a  number  of  field  officers  shared  the  same  fate,  and  I  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  the  old  warrior  in  very  fine  spirits." 

During  the  remainder  of  Col.  Williams'  sojourn  in  the 
Northern  States,  we  do  not  learn  that  he  was  in  any  position  to 
prove  his  skill  as  a  soldier,  excepting  in  those  qualities  which 
are  too  often  under-estimated  by  the  public.  His  regiment 
when  he  took  command  of  it,  was  rather  noted  for  looseness  of 
discipline,  and  did  not  stand  upon  a  mark  with  others  of  the 
line,  but  in  a  very  short  time,  under  Williams'  prompt  and 
active  organization,  it  became  equal  if  not  superior,  in  thorough 
discipline,  to  any  in  the  whole  army. 

A  soldier  should  certainly  not  be  deemed  unable,  who  has 
few  opportunities  of  any  brilliant  success,  and  who  is  only 
known  by  the  admirable  order  of  his  troops. 

From  several  of  Williams'  letters  written  about  this  time,  we 
learn  that  if  there  was  little  chance  of  fame,  he  found  time  to 
fall  in  love,  proving  that  though  ambitious  of  the  glory  of  Mars, 
he  was  not  insensible  to  the  blandishments  of  Venus. 

But  it  is  time,  that  we  approach  the  sphere  of  action  in  which 
Williams  was  particularly  distinguished,  and  where  he  acquired 
such  honor,  as  to  raise  him  to  eminence  among  the  greatest 
Generals  of  this  country.  We  allude  to  the  war  in  the  Southern 
States,  particularly  the  Carolinas,  in  which  some  of  the  bloodiest 
and  most  obstinate  battles  were  fought,  during  the  whole  revolu- 
tion. The  entire  country  in  that  portion  of  the  States,  was 
completely  reduced  and  subdued  by  the  superior  generalship  of 


11 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who  had  left  New  York,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  subjugating  the  Carolinas.  He  had  been  eminently 
successful,  and  it  will  not  be  unimportant  to  pass  briefly  in  re- 
view, the  condition  to  which  those  States  had  been  reduced, 
when  Congress  determined  to  succor  them,  by  reinforcements  of 
Northern  troops,  among  which  were  the  Maryland  and  Virginia 
lines.  On  receipt  of  the  news  of  Clinton's  expedition,  Charles- 
ton, then  in  possession  of  the  Americans,  had  been  placed  in  a 
state  of  defence,  in  the  manner  deemed  best  calculated  to  resist 
the  enemy,  though  the  garrison  was  enfeebled  by  disease,  want 
of  money,  and  want  of  enthusiasm  among  the  soldiery.  Many 
refused  to  serve  again,  after  the  late  campaign  in  Georgia,  un- 
willing to  leave  their  homes,  and  having  no  faith  in  their  own 
strength,  against  a  powerful  and  amply  munitioned  foe.  They 
also  had  strong  grounds,  through  the  proclamations  of  the  Eng- 
lish, to  believe  that  non-resistance  to  the  Crown  would  purchase 
security  from  fire  and  pillage,  for  it  was  the  policy  of  the  Eng- 
lish utterly  to  destroy,  as  far  as  possible,  all  kinds  of  property 
belonging  to  the  Republicans.  The  garrison  of  Charleston 
consisted  of  scarcely  five  thousand  men,  under  command  of 
General  Lincoln,  while  Clinton's  force  alone,  amounted  to  up- 
wards of  eight  thousand.  The  garrison,  after  an  obstinate  de- 
fence of  forty  days,  was  obliged  to  surrender  to  the  enemy, 
before  which  time,  all  hope  of  succor  or  escape  was  reluctantly 
abandoned.  Various  expeditions  were  planned  by  the  American 
troops,  but  almost  every  one  was  prevented,  or  destroyed,  by  the 
ceaseless  vigilance  and  activity  of  the  British,  among  whom  none 
was  ever  more  conspicuous  than  the  well  remembered  Tarlton. 
No  sooner  did  the  British  standard  wave  over  the  ramparts  of 
Charleston,  than  Clinton  determined  to  use  the  most  energetic 
means,  to  ensure  the  reduction  of  the  entire  province.  To  this 
end,  he  planned  several  expeditions,  all  of  which  succeeded  even 
beyond  his  own  hopes.  The  royalists  joined  his  army  in  great 
numbers,  and  the  Americans  were  defeated  at  all  points.  The 
complete  rout  and  terrible  slaughter  of  the  Republicans,  under 
Col.  Buford,  at  Wacsaw,  the  enemy  being  led  on  by  Tarlton, 
for  a  time  utterly  prostrated  the  vigor  of  the  Carolinians,  who 
thereupon  submitted  in  despair.  Clinton,  then  by  promise  of 


amnesty,  endeavored  to  maintain  the  authority  which  British 
bayonets  had  again  acquired,  but  he  excepted  those  who  had 
been  instrumental  in  the  defence  of  Charleston.  This  measure 
was  productive,  as  we  shall  see,  of  the  most  fatal  consequences, 
and  in  time  overturned  all  hopes  of  those  which  he  so  strenu- 
ously endeavored  to  introduce.  His  object  was  to  put  down 
the  slightest  attempt  at  rebellion,  and  those  who  had  lately 
fought  for  Congress,  were  forced  to  take  up  arms  for  the  Crown, 
instead  of  being  suffered  to  remain  as  prisoners  of  war,  on  parole. 

This  unexpected  act  of  tyranny  produced  a  state  of  society  of 
which,  at  this  period,  we  can  have  but  little  idea. 

Those  who  had  fought  bravely  in  defence,  were  treated  with 
the  most  cruel  persecutions,  their  property  plundered  and  de- 
stroyed, while  those  who  submitted  supinely  to  their  fate,  were 
sometimes  rewarded,  or  at  least  suffered  to  remain  undisturbed. 
This  naturally  engendered  a  bitter  feeling,  even  between  fami- 
lies, and  the  complete  separation  of  members  of  the  same  flock, 
were  but  the  happiest  results:  their  hate  was  frequently  kindled 
into  a  flame,  only  quenched  in  blood.  Williams  has  left  a 
graphic  picture  of  the  state  of  society  at  that  time,  and  it  may  be 
remarked,  that  his  opinion  of  the  inhabitants  was  by  no  means 
high. 

He  says,  writing  to  his  brother: — "There  are  a  few  virtuous 
good  men  in  this  State,  and  in  Georgia;  but  a  great  majority  of 
the  people  is  composed  of  the  most  unprincipled,  abandoned, 
vicious  vagrants  that  ever  inhabited  the  earth.  The  daily  de- 
liberate murders  committed  by  pretended  Whigs,  and  reputed 
tories,  (men  who  are  actually  neither  one  thing  nor  the  other  in 
principle,)  are  too  numerous  and  too  shocking  to  relate.  The 
licentiousness  of  various  classes  and  denominations  of  villains, 
desolate  this  country,  impoverish  all  who  attempt  to  live  by 
other  means  and  destroy  the  strength  and  resources  of  the 
country,  which  ought  to  be  collected  and  united,  against  a  com- 
mon enemy. 

"You  may  rely  on  it,  my  dear  brother,  that  the  enemy  have 
had  such  footing  and  influence  in  this  country  that  their  success 
in  putting  the  inhabitants  together  by  the  ears,  has  exceeded 
even  their  own  expectations:  the  distraction  that  prevails  sur- 


13 

passes  any  thing  I  ever  before  witnessed,  and  equals  any  idea, 
which  your  imagination  can  conceive,  of  a  desperate  and  invete- 
rate civil  war." 

But  horrible  as  this  state  of  society  was,  it  had  some  redeem- 
ing features;  fire  might  consume,  a  savage  soldiery  might  plun- 
der, the  sun  might  scorch  and  not  gladden,  and  the  rivers  might 
run  with  blood,  instead  of  water,  but  the  women  of  the  Carolinas 
stood  superior  to  their  husbands,  their  sons,  and  their  brothers, 
and  were  unconquered,  unconquerable.  They  indeed,  bore 
the  fiery  trial,  and  preferred  exile  to  submission,  death  to  slavery. 
They  incited  their  kindred  never  to  lay  down  their  arms,  until 
the  last  foe  had  vanished  from  their  soil.  They  would  with  the 
courage  of  Joan  of  Arc,  have  grasped  the  sword,  and  perished 
at  the  stake.  They  would  not  give  their  hand  in  the  light 
dance  to  a  Briton;  they  gave  their  heart  with  their  hand  to  the 
meanest  of  their  countrymen.  They  threw  the  gold  bracelet 
into  the  scale  to  lighten  the  iron  fetter.  They  feared  not  the 
contagion  of  the  prison  ships,  nor  the  damp  of  the  dungeon. 
They  instilled  into  their  drooping  relatives  new  hopes,  and  urged 
them  once  more  to  draw  the  sword,  and  throw  away  the  scab- 
bard. It  is  related  that  Col.  Tarlton  once  asked  a  lady  in 
Charleston,  the  name  of  the  Camomile  blossom.  "  It  is  called," 
answered  the  noble  woman,  "the  Rebel  flower,  because  it 
flourishes  best  when  most  trampled  on."  The  influence  of 
woman  prevailed,  the  sword  seemed  sharpened,  instead  of 
blunted  by  the  blows  it  had  taken,  and  the  spirit  of  '76  again 
animated  the  soldiery.  The  arrival  of  Lafayette  about  this 
period,  was  most  welcome:  he  brought  encouraging  news,  and 
instilled  into  the  colonists  hopes  which  were  soon  verified  by  the 
arrival  of  the  French  fleet,  commanded  by  Admiral  de  Tiernay, 
in  Newport  harbor.  Then  the  people  once  more  flew  to  arms, 
and 

The  war  that  for  a  space  did  fail 
Now  trebly  thundering  swelled  the  gale. 

General  Gates  took  command  in  July,  1780,  superseding 
Baron  de  Kalb;  and  Col.  Williams  with  his  regiment  appears 
at  the  seat  of  war,  in  the  Southern  States,  about  that  time.  He 
assumed  by  appointment  the  important  post  of  deputy  Adjutant 


14 

General,  which  added  greatly  to  his  duties,  but  which  he  dis- 
charged through  his  whole  period  of  service,  with  exemplary 
fidelity.  He  has  left  a  detailed  narrative  of  the  campaign  of 
1780,  (published  in  Johnston's  Life  of  Greene,)  and  his  letters 
give  most  graphic  accounts  of  the  battles  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged, and  the  trials  in  other  forms,  through  which  he  passed. 
The  sharp  action  where  blows  were  given  and  taken,  proved 
less  arduous  and  scarce  more  dangerous,  than  the  sufferings  of 
the  army  without  an  enemy  in  sight.  He  writes  soon  after  his 
arrival — "  The  affairs  of  our  little  southern  army  are  much  de- 
ranged, and  we  find  ourselves  under  very  considerable  embar- 
rassments in  our  present  position ;  the  want  of  provisions  is  an 
inconvenience  we  have  often  experienced,  but  we  have  never 
been  in  a  country  so  unwilling  to  supply  us  as  at  present.  By 
military  authority,  we  collect  a  kind  of  casual  subsistence  that 
can  scarcely  be  called  our  daily  bread.  The  fatigue  of  cam- 
paigning in  this  country  is  almost  inconceivable.  I  have  slept, 
when  I  have  had  time  to  sleep,  in  my  clothes.  I  seldom  divest 
myself  of  my  sword,  boots  or  coat;  my  horse  is  constantly  sad- 
dled, and  we  eat  when  provisions  are  to  be  got,  and  we  have 
nothing  else  to  do.  The  dangers  of  the  field  are  neither  more 
frequent,  nor  more  fatal,  than  those  attending  the  fatigues  and 
accidents  that  reduce  an  army — from  long  experience,  I  find 
myself  so  capable  of  sustaining  the  fatigue,  and  by  my  good 
fortune  (the  favor  of  Providence)  I  have  so  often  escaped  the 
danger,  that  I  am  contented  to  do  my  duty,  and  submit  myself 
to  that  fate  which  Heaven  ordains." 

The  campaign  of  1780  was  a  most  unfortunate  one  for  the 
Southern  States,  as  that  of  1776  was  for  the  Northern.  Soon 
after  General  Gates  took  command,  the  battle  of  Camden  was 
fought,  which  resulted  in  the  total  defeat  of  the  Americans. 
Col.  Williams  gives  an  account  of  it  in  his  sketch  of  the  cam- 
paign, but  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any  of  his  private  letters 
on  the  subject.  The  battle  was  fought  on  the  16th  of  August, 
and  from  returns  which  Williams  collected,  the  actual  number 
of  fighting  men  or  rather  of  able  bodied  troops,  for  some  did  not 
fight  at  all,  amounted  only  to  three  thousand  and  fifty-two, 
about  one-half  of  the  nominal  strength  of  the  army.  The 


15 

numbers  of  the  enemy  were  much  superior,  and  at  the  very 
time  that  Gen.  Gates  had  determined  to  march  upon  Camden, 
Lord  Cornwallis,  commander-in-chief,  (Clinton  having  returned 
to  New  York,)  apprised  of  all  that  was  passing  in  the  interior  of 
the  States,  determined  to  march  himself  to  reinforce  Lord  Raw- 
don,  thinking  it  highly  probable  from  the  position  of  the  Amer- 
ican army,  that  Camden  would  be  a  point  of  speedy  attack. 
He  arrived  there  two  days  before  the  battle,  and  unwilling  to 
hazard  an  assault,  determined  to  surprise  the  rebels  in  their 
place  of  encampment  at  Clermont.  Thus  both  armies,  igno- 
rant of  each  other's  intentions,  moved  about  the  same  hour  of 
the  night,  and  approaching  each  other,  met  half  way  between 
their  respective  encampments  at  midnight.  An  exchange  of 
fire  between  the  advanced  guards  was  the  first  notice  that  either 
army  had  of  the  other.  Hostilities  were  for  the  time  suspended, 
and  from  one  of  the  prisoners  taken  in  the  skirmish,  Williams 
learned  that  Lord  Cornwallis  led  the  army  with  three  thousand 
troops  under  his  especial  command,  besides  those  of  Lord 
Rawdon's. 

This  intelligence  threw  consternation  into  the  American  army, 
and  Gen.  Gates  called  a  council  of  war.  It  was  decided  that 
the  time  had  passed  for  any  course  but  fighting.  Frequent 
skirmishes  occurred  throughout  the  night,  which  served  to  dis- 
play the  relative  force  and  situation  of  the  two  armies.  Col. 
Williams  narrates  another  circumstance  which  contributed  to 
distress  the  Americans,  and  he  says: 

"  Nothing  ought  to  be  considered  as  trivial  in  an  army  which 
in  any  degree  affects  the  health  or  spirit  of  the  troops,  upon 
which  often,  more  than  upon  number,  the  fate  of  battles  depends. 
The  troops  of  Gen.  Gates'  army  had  frequently  felt  the  conse- 
quence of  eating  bad  provisions,  but  at  this  time  a  hasty  meal 
of  quick  baked  bread  and  fresh  meat,  with  a  dessert  of  molasses 
mixed  with  mush  or  dumplings,  operated  so  cathartically  as  to 
disorder  very  many  of  the  men,  who  were  breaking  the  ranks 
all  night,  and  were  certainly  much  debilitated  before  the  action 
commenced  in  the  morning." 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th,  the  two  armies  came  together, 
and  Williams  at  the  very  onset  distinguished  himself  by  his 


16 

valor,  and  by  his  suggestion  to  Gen.  Gates  that  the  enemy  should 
be  attacked  while  displaying  by  Gen.  Stevens'  brigade,  already 
in  line  of  battle,  as  first  impressions  were  very  important.  Gen. 
Gates  at  once  replied,  " that's  right,  let  it  be  done."  This, 
however,  could  not  be  accomplished  until  the  right  wing  of  the 
British  was  discovered  in  line,  too  late  to  attack  them  while 
displaying.  Williams  at  the  head  of  forty  or  fifty  men  then 
commenced  the  attack,  and  kept  up  a  brisk  fire.  But  the  mili- 
tia no  sooner  beheld  the  enemy  advance  impetuously,  than  they 
threw  down  their  arms  without  firing  and  fled  instantly.  This 
was  followed  by  others,  acting  in  the  same  pusillanimous  style, 
and  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  army  never  fired  a  shot.  Wil- 
liams writes : 

"  He  who  has  never  seen  the  effect  of  a  panic  upon  a  multi- 
tude can  have  but  an  imperfect  idea  of  such  a  thing.  The  best 
disciplined  troops  have  been  enervated  and  made  cowards  by  it. 
Armies  have  been  routed  by  it,  even  where  no  enemy  appeared 
to  furnish  an  excuse.  Like  electricity,  it  operates  instantly;  like 
sympathy,  it  is  irresistible  where  it  touches." 

The  regular  troops,  including  those  of  Maryland,  stood  their 
ground,  and  by  tremendous  fires  of  musketry  kept  the  enemy 
for  a  while  in  check.  Several  times  did  the  British  give  way 
and  as  often  rallied.  But  two  brigades  of  American  troops  re- 
mained firm  upon  the  field.  Williams  called  upon  his  regiment 
not  to  fly;  he  saw  that  to  avoid  retreat  was  impossible  but  wished 
it  to  be  accomplished  with  credit.  The  troops  stood  well  and 
returned  the  hot  fire  of  the  enemy  with  zeal,  until  Cornwallis, 
charging  with  his  whole  force  of  dragoons  and  infantry,  put 
them  to  total  rout.  Not  a  company  retired  in  good  order,  but 
Williams  attributed  this  not  to  want  of  courage ;  they  had  fought 
against  desperate  odds,  besides  having  to  fight  for  those  who  so 
ingloriously  fled,  but  it  appears  that  there  was  no  command  to 
retreat  from  any  general  officer  until  it  became  too  late  to  retire 
in  order.  Williams  gained  in  this  action,  unfortunate  as  it 
proved,  a  character  for  cool  courage,  for  discretion,  and  that 
thorough  knowledge  of  tactics  so  essential  in  the  officer,  and 
without  which  impetuosity  would  be  but  an  explosive  gas,  but 
which,  guarded  by  the  master-hand  of  the  philosopher,  burns 


17 

steadily  through  the  thickest  gloom.  Never  off  his  guard,  he 
knew  when  and  where  to  strike,  and  when  to  reserve  the  blow 
that  opportunity  only  served  to  encourage;  for  it  is  hard  for  the 
brave  in  battle  to  retain  the  gauntlet  of  defiance,  and  so  armed, 
"out  of  the  nettle  danger  pluck  the  flower  safety." 

General  Gates  never  entirely  recovered  from  the  odium  show- 
ered upon  him  by  the  event  of  the  battle  of  Camden,  and  the 
consequences  finally  led  to  his  displacement,  and  the  appoint- 
ment of  Gen.  Greene  to  the  command  of  the  Southern  army, 
but  Williams  always  continued  his  firm  friend,  and  speaks  of 
him  in  several  instances  as  the  "good  old  man." 

(It  is  impossible,  in  a  sketch  so  brief  as  this,  to  give  any  de- 
tailed account  of  the  war  in  the  Carolinas;  it  will  be  sufficient 
to  introduce  successively  Col.  Williams'  graphic  pictures  of  the 
battles  and  scenes  in  which  he  was  engaged.) 

The  tide  of  fortune  could  not  flow  forever  with  the  English, 
and  at  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain,  in  which  Williams  took 
part,  they  were  utterly  defeated;  this  victory  proved  a  severe 
blow  to  the  interests  of  Lord  Comwallis.  Sometimes  by  good 
luck,  advantages  were  gained,  as  in  the  following  circumstance 
during  the  same  year,  and  of  which  Williams  gives  this  account, 
dated  7th  Dec.  1780: 

"A  few  days  ago  Gen.  Morgan,  with  the  Light  Infantry  of 
our  army  and  a  party  of  Light  Dragoons  under  Lieut.  Col. 
Washington,  moved  towards  Camden.  Col.  Rugely's  farm 
was  defended  by  a  strong  block  house,  which  was  garrisoned  by 
Col.  Hugely  and  a  party  of  new  levies.  A  good  block  house 
is  proof  against  musketry  and  sometimes  against  light  artillery. 
Therefore  Gen.  Morgan  would  not  risk  his  troops  in  an  assault, 
but  had  recourse  to  stratagem,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Washington  exe- 
cuted the  plan.  He  paraded  the  cavalry  in  view  of  the  block 
house  and  mounted  the  trunk  of  a  pine  tree  upon  three  prongs, 
instead  of  a  field  piece,  and  which  he  manned  with  dismounted 
dragoons,  then  summoned  Rugely  to  surrender,  which  the  pol- 
troon did,  without  hearing  a  report  of  this  new  invented  piece 
of  ordnance,  and  submitted  himself  with  about  100  officers  and 
men  to  be  taken  as  prisoners  of  war." 


18 

The  battle  of  Cowpens  was  another  blow — perhaps  the 
most  decisive  victory  gained  by  the  Americans  during  the  whole 
war,  and  in  which  the  hitherto  terrible  and  fortunate  Tarlton 
was  put  to  total  rout. 

The  retreat  of  the  anny  through  North  Carolina,  which,  so 
admirably  executed,  had  the  effect  of  leading  Cornwallis  into 
Virginia,  followed  the  battle  of  Cowpens,  and  gave  Williams 
an  opportunity  of  displaying  those  qualities  of  tact,  vigilance 
and  prudence,  which  gain  for  an  officer  a  fame  as  deserved  as 
the  laurels  won  in  battle.  He  commanded  the  rear  guard,  and 
succeeded  in  eluding  every  effort  of  the  enemy  in  pursuit. 
Greene,  with  a  keen  eye,  early  distinguished  his  abilities,  and  he 
became,  as  long  as  he  remained  with  the  army,  one  of  his  gene- 
ral's few  and  constant  advisers.  He  appointed  him  Adjutant 
General,  as  he  had  been  Deputy  under  Gates. 

The  next  engagement  of  consequence  is  that  of  Guilford 
Court  House,  and  Williams  has  left  a  short  account  of  it  in  a 
hasty  letter  to  his  brother.  His  letter  is  dated  from  Camp  at 
Speedwell's  furnace,  ten  miles  from  Guilford  Court  House,  1st 
March,  1781: 

"  The  Southern  army  has  once  more  come  off  second  best  in 
a  general  action.  Gen.  Greene  being  reinforced  with  a  few 
small  detachments  of  new  levies,  which  gave  the  regular  batta- 
lion a  respectable  appearance,  and  a  sufficient  number  of  militia 
to  make  his  force  apparently  superior  to  the  British  army,  made 
the  best  possible  arrangement  of  his  troops,  and  for  many  rea- 
sons which  rendered  it  almost  absolutely  necessary,  came  to  a 
resolution  of  attacking  Lord  Cornwallis  the  first  opportunity. 
When  both  parties  are  disposed  for  action  all  obstacles  are  soon 
overcome.  The  two  armies  met  at  Guilford  Court  House  yes- 
terday at  12  o'clock.  Our  army  was  well  posted;  the  action 
was  commenced  by  the  advanced  parties  of  infantry  and  cavalry, 
in  which  our  troops  were  successful,  but  the  situation  of  the 
ground  not  being  favorable  in  our  front,  our  army  kept  its  posi- 
tion and  waited  the  attack  of  the  British.  They  were  opposed 
wherever  they  appeared.  The  militia  of  North  Carolina  be- 
haved as  usual,  but  those  of  Virginia  distinguished  themselves 
by  uncommon  bravery.  The  regular  troops  were  the  last  that 


19 

had  come  to  action  and  generally  behaved  well,  but  as  these 
were  the  most  inconsiderable  in  number,  the  general  chose 
rather  to  retire  than  risk  a  defeat.  The  retreat  was  made  in 
tolerable  good  order,  and  so  stern  was  the  appearance  of  our 
regular  force,  that  the  enemy  did  not  think  proper  to  press  our 
rear,  nor  continue  the  pursuit  more  than  three  miles.  Our 
greatest  loss  is  four  pieces  of  artillery  and  the  field." 

During  the  next  month  another  ineffectual  attempt  was  made 
upon  Camden,  and  pursuing  the  plan  formed  of  allowing  the 
actors  in  these  scenes  to  speak  for  themselves,  we  have  Col. 
Williams'  account  of  the  efforts  of  the  army  as  follows: 

"CAMP  BEFORE  CAMDEV,  27  April,  1781. 

"  Dear  Elie — We  have  been  here  ever  since  the  19th  instant, 
and  have  made  several  manoeuvres,  upon  different  quarters  of 
the  town,  but  have  neither  been  able  to  discover  advantages, 
that  promised  success  by  a  storm,  nor  to  completely  invest  the 
place.  The  town  is  flanked  on  the  West  by  the  Wateree,  and 
on  the  East  by  two  deep  creeks;  the  other  quarters  are  strongly 
fortified.  A  villain  of  a  drummer  went  in  to  the  enemy  on  the 
the  24th,  when  we  were  encamped  within  a  mile  of  the  town, 
and  gave  them  such  information  of  our  circumstances,  position 
and  numbers,  as  induced  Lord  Rawdon  to  sally  with  all  his  best 
troops  the  next  morning,  about  eleven  o'clock. 

"  This  was  what  we  wished,  and  the  only  hope  we  had  of  a 
speedy  reduction  of  the  post.  Lieut.  Col.  Washington  was 
ordered  to  pass  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy  with  his  cavalry, 
which  he  did,  and  threw  himself  in  their  rear.  Capt.  Kirk- 
wood,  with  two  small  companies  of  light  infantry,  was  behaving 
bravely  in  front,  and  the  picquets  were  doing  their  duty  upon 
the  flanks,  when  the  line  was  ordered  to  advance,  and  the  artil- 
lery to  play  upon  the  enemy.  The  first  Maryland  regiment 
particularly,  was  ordered  to  charge  bayonets,  without  firing,  but 
for  some  cause  not  yet  clearly  ascertained,  the  regiment  received 
orders  to  retire  and  then  broke.  The  second  regiment  retired 
in  consequence.  The  second  Virginia  regiment  was  ordered  off, 
and  the  first  broke.  The  unfavorable  consequences  were,  that 
the  army  lost  a  glorious  opportunity  of  gaining  a  complete  vie- 


20 

tory,  taking  the  town,  and  biasing  the  beam  of  fortune  greatly 
in  favor  of  our  cause. 

"  The  action  was  at  no  time  very  warm,  but  it  was  durable, 
and  our  troops  by  the  gallant  exertions  of  our  officers,  were  ral- 
lied frequently,  but  always  fought  at  long  shot.  A  convincing 
testimony  that  this  was  generally  the  case,  is  that  none  or  very 
few  of  our  men  were  wounded  with  buck  shot  or  bayonet.  The 
baggage  of  our  army  was  sent  off  to  Rugely's,  and  the  troops 
halted  at  Saunder's  Creek,  about  two  miles  South  of  where  we 
fought  last  year,  and  about  five  miles  from  Camden.  The  loss 
was  nearly  equal  on  both  sides,  if  we  do  not  consider  the  loss 
of  opportunity.  We  lost  about  130  killed  and  wounded,  and 
from  every  account  the  enemy  were  not  more  lucky. 

c<  The  cavalry,  the  light  infantry,  and  the  guards,  acquired 
all  the  honor,  and  the  infantry  of  the  battalions  all  the  disgrace 
that  fell  upon  our  shoulders.  The  cavalry,  led  on  by  Washing- 
ton, behaved  in  a  manner  truly  heroic.  He  charged  the 
British  army  in  the  rear,  took  a  great  number  of  prisoners,  sent 
many  of  them  off  with  small  detachments,  and  wrhen  he  saw 
we  were  turning  our  backs  upon  victory  in  front,  by  a  circuitous 
manoeuvre,  he  threw  his  dragoons  into  our  rear,  passed  the  line 
and  'charged  the  York  volunteers,  (a  fine  corps  of  cavalry ,)  killed 
a  number  and  drove  the  rest  out  of  the  field.  Washington  is 
an  elegant  officer;  his  reputation  is  deservedly  great.  Many  of 
our  officers  are  mortally  mortified  at  our  late  inglorious  retreat. 
I  say  mortally,  because  I  cannot  doubt  that  some  of  us  must 
fall,  in  endeavoring  the  next  opportunity,  to  re-establish  our 
reputation.  Dear  Reputation,  what  trouble  do  you  not  occa- 
sion, what  danger  do  you  not  expose  us  to!  Who  but  for  it, 
would  patiently  persevere  in  prosecuting  a  war,  with  the  mere 
remnant  of  a  fugitive  army,  in  a  country  made  desolate  by  re- 
peated ravages,  and  rendered  sterile  by  streams  of  blood.  Who 
but  for  reputation  would  sustain  the  varied  evils  that  daily  attend 
the  life  of  a  soldier,  and  expose  him  to  jeopardy  every  hour. 
Liberty,  thou  basis  of  reputation,  suffer  me  not  to  forget  the 
cause  of  my  country,  nor  to  murmur  at  my  fate." 

The  events  of  this  campaign  being  active,  and  following  in 
quick  succession,  we  have  an  account  of  the  siege  of  Ninety-six, 


a  very  important  post.  The  fortunes  of  the  war  had  turned 
generally  in  favor  of  the  Americans,  although  their  troops  were 
several  times  defeated  in  this  campaign.  Lord  Rawdon  was  forced 
to  abandon  Camden  shortly  after  the  events  narrated  by  Wil- 
liams, and  the  posts  of  Fort  Watson,  Fort  Mott,  Fort  Granby, 
Nelson's  Ferry,  Georgetown,  Fort  Dreadnought  and  Augusta 
were  all  reduced  or  deserted,  and  there  remained  only  Charleston 
and  Ninety-six  in  South  Carolina,  and  Savannah,  in  Georgia, 
in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  post  of  Ninety-six  was  closely 
besieged  for  three  weeks,  and  without  reinforcements,  which  the 
Americans  hardly  expected,  would  certainly  have  been  taken. 
But  it  so  happened,  unfortunately,  that  the  garrison  was  strongly 
reinforced  by  Lord  Rawdon,  and  the  Americans  were  obliged  to 
abandon  the  siege.  Col.  Williams  writes  thus: 

"BusH  RIVER,  June  23d,  1781. 

"  Dear  Bro. — The  circumstances  of  the  war,  in  this  part  of 
the  world,  have  had  a  material  alteration  since  I  had  the  plea- 
sure to  write  you.  After  Lord  Rawdon's  retreat  from  Camden, 
Gen.  Greene  pushed  his  operations  southwardly,  and  has  obliged 
the  enemy  to  abandon  or  surrender  all  their  posts  in  South 
Carolina,  except  Charleston  and  Ninety-six.  On  the  22d  ult. 
our  little  army  invested  the  last  mentioned  place,  and  continued 
the  siege  with  infinite  labor  and  alacrity  till  the  20th  inst.,when 
we  were  obliged  to  relinquish  an  object,  which,  if  attained, 
would  not  only  have  given  peace  to  this  distracted  country,  but 
would  have  added  a  lustre  to  our  former  services,  sufficiently 
brilliant  to  have  thrown  a  proper  light  upon  the  character  of  our 
excellent  General,  and  reflected  a  ray  of  glory  upon  the  reputa- 
tion of  each  inferior  officer.  Though  we  have  been  greatly  dis- 
appointed, no  troops  ever  deserved  more  credit  for  their  exertions. 
The  operations  were  prosecuted  with  indefatigable  zeal  and 
bravery,  and  the  place  was  defended  with  spirit  and  address. 
Our  loss  is  Capt.  Armstrong,  of  the  Maryland  Line,  killed: 
Capt.  Benson,  dangerously  wounded,  and  Lieut.  Duvall,  also 
wounded.  Besides  officers,  we  lost  fifty-eight  men  killed,  sixty- 
nine  wounded,  and  twenty  missing.  From  this  account  you 
will  conclude  that  a  day  seldom  passed  without  execution,  and 


22 

I  can  assure  you  that  each  night  rather  promoted  than  dimin- 
ished the  mischief.  We  succeeded  so  far  as  to  take  one  of  the 
enemy's  redoubts,  and  in  ail  probability  a  few  days  more  would 
have  happily  concluded  the  business.  But  Lord  Rawdon  had 
received  a  strong  reinforcement,  and  by  making  forced  marches, 
arrived  in  time  to  avert  the  impending  fate  of  the  garrison.  I 
cannot  ascertain  the  loss  the  enemy  may  have  sustained,  but  judg- 
ing by  our  own,  it  cannot  be  inconsiderable.  Our  approaches 
were  carried  by  two  trenches  and  a  mine  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
ditch  of  their  strongest  fort,  and  our  troops  once  took  possession 
of  it,  but  their  works  were  too  strong  to  be  escaladed.  Instances 
of  consummate  bravery  were  exhibited,  but  their  fire  was  too 
fatal  for  our  people  to  remain  in  their  fosse,  and  we  were  obliged 
to  leave  it  with  loss." 

But  the  most  important  battle,  and  the  last  of  consequence, 
was  that  of  Eutaw.  It  was  by  no  means  as  decisive  as  that  of 
Cowpens,  but  it  was  instrumental  in  putting  an  end  to  the  war. 
Col.  Williams  displays  his  knowledge  of  the  enemy.,  and  his 
skill  as  a  soldier,  in  this  prognostic  of  the  battle,  which  hap- 
pened four  days  after  that  he  writes  as  follows  from 

"Four  MOTT,  on  the  Congaree  River,  Sept.  4th,  1781. 

"  I  wrote  last  from  the  high  hills  of  Santee,  from  which  the 
army  moved  the  23d  of  August,  with  the  view  of  attacking  the 
enemy  at  Thompson's  Farm,  which  is  within  half  a  mile  of 
this  place,  but  having  a  large  circuit  to  make  before  we  could 
pass  the  Wateree  and  Congaree  rivers,  which  lay  between  us, 
the  enemy  took  the  opportunity  of  retiring  to  Nelson  Ferry, 
which  is  on  the  Santee  River,  about  forty  miles  below  the  con- 
fluence of  the  first  mentioned  rivers,  which  form  the  last,  within 
sight  of  our  present  position. 

"  Having  got  the  enemy  so  low  down  the  country,  a  great 
point  is  gained,  and  puts  the  laboring  oar  into  their  hands. 

"We  shall  not  be  under  the  necessity  of  fighting,  neither 
shall  we  avoid  it  if  a  favorable  opportunity  offers.  These  large 
rivers,  which  have  all  extensive  marshy  shores  and  but  few  fer- 
ries, embarrass  us  on  account  of  transporting  our  baggage,  and 
will  subject  the  army  to  some  inconvenience,  but  our  circum- 


23 

stances,  taken  altogether,  are  very  different  from  what  they  were 
three  months  ago,  and  are  indeed  a  perfect  contrast  to  the  ad- 
verse fortune  that  followed  the  heels  of  our  retreating  troops  last 
winter.  If  Col.  Stewart,  who  has  commanded  the  army  since 
Lord  Rawdon's  departure  for  Europe,  thinks  proper  to  risk  an 
action,  he  will  be  beaten." 

Here  we  have  his  account  of  the  battle  itself : 

11  The  British  army,  being  reinforced  by  the  3d  regiment, 
contrary  to  my  expectations,  advanced  from  Orangeburgh  to 
Congaree,  and  encamped  at  Col.  Thompson's,  about  one  mile 
from  Fort  Mott,  which  we  had  reduced  some  time  before.  It 
is  said  they  exultingly  gave  three  cheers  upon  regaining  that 
position.  The  two  armies  remained  neighbors,  and  were  sepa- 
rated by  the  Santee,  from  early  in  August  till  the  23d  of  that 
month,  when  Gen.  Greene  took  the  resolution  to  remove  Col. 
Stewart,  (who  succeeded  Gen.  Rawdon  in  command,)  or  give 
him  battle. 

"  It  was  impossible  to  pass  the  rivers  Wateree  and  Congaree 
immediately  in  front,  and  as  their  confluence  is  but  a  little  to 
our  left,  it  was  not  considered  eligible  to  cross  the  Santee  below 
the  enemy  for  obvious  reasons:  we  had  a  junction  to  form  with 
the  State  troops  and  militia,  whose  numbers  were  not  ascer- 
tained, and  without  them  we  were  greatly  inferior  in  force  to 
the  enemy.  Therefore  the  General  ordered  us  to  march  by  the 
right,  and  we  passed  the  rivers  above,  which  induced  the  British 
army  to  retire  to  Eutaw  Springs,  about  thirty-five  miles  from 
Thompson's  and  about  two  from  Nelson's  Ferry  over  the  Santee. 
Gen.  Greene  did  not  approve  of  their  holding  that  post,  and  as 
his  forces  were  now  collected,  he  determined  to  prosecute  his 
plan  of  giving  battle  or  removing  them  to  a  more  peaceful  dis- 
tance. By  easy  marches  we  arrived  at  Burdell's,  seven  miles 
from  Eutaw,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  7th  inst.,  and  orders  were 
given  for  marching  again  next  morning,  at  four  o'clock,  to 
attack  the  enemy. 

"At  four  o'clock  next  morning  we  were  under  arms,  and 
moved  in  order  of  battle  about  three  miles,  when  we  halted, 
and  took  a  little  of  that  liquid  which  is  not  unnecessary  to  exhi- 
larate the  animal  spirits  upon  such  occasions.  Again  we  ad- 


24 

vanced,  and  soon  afterwards  our  light  troops  met  the  van  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  marching  out  to  meet  us. 

"Very  serious,  very  important  reflections  began  to  obtrude. 
But  liberty  or  death;  peace  and  independence;  or  glory  and  a 
grave.  The  enemy's  van  was  soon  driven  to  their  line,  and 
our  troops  displayed.  Our  militia,  which  composed  the  front 
line,  seconded  the  attack,  and  behaved  better  than  usual.  The 
North  Carolina  brigade  of  Continentals  were  next  engaged,  and 
acquired  honor  by  their  firmness.  The  Virginians  advanced 
with  impetuosity,  and  beat  their  foes  wherever  they  found  them. 
And  the  little  remnant  of  Maryland  troops,  with  an  intrepidity 
which  was  particularly  noticed  by  our  gallant  commander,  ad- 
vanced in  good  order,  with  trailed  arms,  and  without  regarding 
or  returning  the  enemy's  fire,  charged  and  broke  their  best 
troops.  Then,  indeed,  we  fired  and  followed  them  into  their 
camp,  near  which  is  a  thick  wood,  very  unfavorable  to  cavalry. 
But  Col.  Washington,  impatient  perhaps  for  a  more  favorable 
opportunity,  charged  upon  the  enemy's  right,  where  unluckily 
their  flank  companies  were  posted.  He  received  a  very  galling 
fire,  by  which  his  horse  fell  in  front  of  his  dragoons.  In  an 
instant  his  breast  was  pierced  by  a  bayonet,  which  however 
wounded  him  but  slightly.  His  cavalry  was  repulsed,  and 
that  excellent  officer  became  a  captive. 

"  Our  loss  in  officers  killed  and  wounded  was  very  considera- 
ble, and  the  eagerness  of  the  pursuit  had  thrown  most  of  the 
troops  into  disorder,  which  could  not  now  be  remedied.  Some 
were  taking  prisoners,  and  others  plundering  the  enemy's  camp, 
while  they  in  despair  sought  refuge  in  and  about  a  strong  brick 
house  which  stood  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  from  whence  their 
fire  began  to  gall  us  exceedingly.  About  this  time  General 
Greene  had  brought  our  two  six  pounders  within  one  hundred 
yards  of  the  house,  and  I  believe  by  accident  or  mistake,  two 
others  which  we  had  taken  were  brought  to  the  same  place.  At 
this  critical  juncture  the  enemy  made  a  conclusive  effort,  which 
not  only  did  them  great  honor,  but,  in  my  opinion,  was  the 
salvation  of  their  whole  army.  Major  Majoribanks  sallied 
briskly  from  behind  a  picket  garden,  charged  our  artillery,  and 


25 

carried  the  pieces,  which  they  immediately  secured  under  the 
walls  of  their  citadel. 

"As  our  two  three  pounders  and  one  which  we  had  taken  in 
the  field,  were  all  dismounted,  it  was  useless  to  attempt  any 
thing  further  with  the  small  arms.  The  General,  therefore, 
ordered  the  troops  to  retire,  which  was  done  gradually,  the 
enemy  not  presuming  to  follow.  The  cavalry  of  the  legion 
kept  that  of  the  enemy  in  awe,  but  found  no  good  opportunity 
to  cut  them. 

"  The  Delaware  battalion  and  legion  infantry  acted  with  their 
usual  vivacity,  and  were  among  those  who  did  the  most  execu- 
tion. As  the  Eutaw  Spring  was  within  fifty  yards  of  the  house, 
and  there  was  no  other  water  nearer  than  Burdell's,  we  retired 
in  the  afternoon  to  that  place,  which  gave  the  enemy  an  oppor- 
tunity of  burying  as  many  of  their  dead  as  their  stay  would 
admit.  They  abandoned  the  post  early  on  the  night  of  the  9th, 
leaving  upwards  of  sixty  of  their  dead  unburied,  and  sixty  or 
seventy  wounded  that  could  not  be  carried  off.  We  pursued 
them  about  thirty-five  miles,  and  though  their  army  was  rein- 
forced by  Major  McArthur's  detachment  of  300  or  400  men 
from  Monks'  Corner,  they  thought  proper  to  retire  to  a  strong 
position  on  the  south  side  of  Ferguson's  swamp,  in  the  night  of 
the  10th,  when  we  lay  at  the  Trout  Spring,  within  five  miles 
of  them. 

"  They  retired  to  Fair  Lawn,  below  Monks',  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  13th  the  General  ordered  the  army  to  return  to  its 
former  position  at  the  high  hills  of  San  tee.  This  expedition  was 
made  in  the  season  of  the  year  which  is  most  sickly  in  this 
country;  and  you  cannot  conceive  how  much  more  lamentable 
it  is  to  lose  an  officer  in  sick  quarters,  than  to  see  him  fall  in 
the  field.  There,  there  is  no  duration  of  that  toilsome  anxiety 
which  we  suffer  for  a  languishing  friend,  besides  his  exit  is 
glorious  and,  we  believe,  happy. 

"  Upon  re-perusal  of  this  circumstantial  sheet,  I  do  not  think 
I  have  said  enough  of  the  bravery  of  the  American  troops.  To 
have  an  idea  of  their  vivacity  and  intrepidity,  you  must  have 
shared  their  danger  and  seen  their  charge,  which  exceeded  any 
thing  of  the  sort  I  ever  saw  before. 
4 


26 

"  The  battle  of  Eutaw,  was  an  example  of  what  I  conceive 
to  be  obstinate  fair  field  fighting,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark, 
that  it  happened  on  the  same  spot  of  ground  where,  according 
to  the  tradition  of  this  country,  a  very  bloody,  desperate  battle 
was  fought  about  a  century  ago,  between  the  savage  natives  and 
the  barbarous  Europeans  who  came  to  dispossess  them  of  their 
property,  which,  in  soil,  is  as  rich  as  any  upon  the  continent,  or 
can  be  any  where  else.  On  the  spot  where  the  conflict  of  bay- 
onets decided  the  victory,  is  a  monument  or  mound  of  earth, 
said  to  have  been  erected  over  the  bodies  of  the  brave  Indians 
who  fell  in  defence  of  their  country.  Will  any  such  honorable 
testimony  be  erected  to  the  memory  of  our  departed  heroes?" 

Both  parties  claimed  the  victory,  and  according  to  Gen.  Tarl- 
ton's  narrative,  it  was  a  most  brilliant  triumph  for  the  British. 
It  had,  however,  great  weight  in  favor  of  the  Americans. 
Williams'  conduct  in  this  engagement  was  most  distinguished, 
and  won  for  him  the  entire  approbation  and  praise  of  General 
Greene  and  the  army.  Indeed,  Greene  says:  "  I  cannot  help 
acknowledging  my  obligations  to  Col.  Williams  for  his  great 
activity  on  this  and  many  other  occasions,  in  forming  the  army, 
and  for  his  uncommon  intrepidity  in  leading  on  the  Maryland 
troops  to  the  charge."  Williams  might,  indeed,  well  be  proud 
of  such  commendation,  but  he  now  knew  that  he  had  done  all 
in  his  power  for  the  country,  and  he  yearned  to  return  to  the 
bosom  of  his  family.  A  sense  of  duty  alone  made  him  a  soldier; 
there  was  in  him  no  desire  of  mere  military  distinction,  but  of 

"  that  good  fame, 
Without  which  glory's  but  a  tavern  song." 

He  would  have  chosen  to  live  on  the  old  homestead,  had  not 
the  cry  of  his  country  rung  in  his  ears,  and  when  he  was  at  last 
free  to  set  his  face  homewards,  how  gladly  did  he  depart.  He 
writes  to  his  brother: 

" My  disposition  is  wholly  domestic;  my  feelings  flow  with 
excess  of  tenderness  whenever  I  indulge  the  thoughts  of  home. 
There  I  will  be  as  soon  as  I  can  quit  the  field  with  honor,  and 
sooner  you  don't  expect  me.  The  hope  of  terminating  this 
tour  of  service  with  a  little  good  fortune,  and  of  returning  once 


27 

more  to  my  friends,  supports  me  under  all  my  anxiety  and 
danger.  I  am  happy  in  my  office,  in  my  command,  and  in  my 
connections.  My  health  is  seldom  impaired,  though  my  feelings 
are  wounded  every  day  by  such  circumstances  as  I  have  fre- 
quently related — so  that  I  have  a  mixture  of  pleasure  and  pain 
in  the  exercise  of  my  profession',  which  I  ardently  wish  I  may 
soon  have  an  honorable  opportunity  of  changing  for  some  silent, 
sweet  domestic  occupation.  Then  will  I  take  you  and  my 
fond  sisters  in  my  arms,  and  live  with  you  in  peace." 

The  military  career  of  Williams  now  drew  rapidly  to  a  close, 
and  the  remainder  of  his  days  were  passed  in  the  repose  he  so 
ardently  loved.  But  toward  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  sent 
by  Greene  with  despatches  to  Congress,  and  became  Brigadier 
General  by  brevet.  Much  as  he  merited  the  honor,  it  caused 
some  dissatisfaction  among  his  brother  officers,  and  Greene  writes 
to  him  on  this  subject,  in  connection  with  others,  as  follows: 

"  I  wrote  you,  my  dear  General,  some  time  past,  in  answer 
to  your  letter.  In  mine  I  congratulated  you  on  your  promotion, 
from  which  I  felt  a  singular  happiness,  but  observed  at  the  same 
time,  that  the  manner  was  more  honorable  to  you,  than  satisfac- 
tory to  the  other  Colonels  of  the  army.  Your  right  of  promotion, 
which  took  place  from  the  United  States  being  formed  into 
districts,  was  repealed  before  your  promotion  took  place,  and 
being  promoted  upon  a  principle  of  merit,  the  Colonels  feel  an 
injury  in  the  comparison  that  their  merit  is  less  conspicuous  than 
yours.  Col.  Pinkney  wrote  me  on  the  subject,  and  I  believe 
has  written  to  Congress.  I  gave  him  copies  of  my  letters  to 
Congress,  which  were  satisfactory.  I  expect  other  Colonels 
will  feel  the  same  injury,  and  very  likely  make  the  same  appli- 
cation. 

"  The  love  of  rank  is  so  strong  a  principle  in  the  breast  of  a 
soldier,  that  he  who  has  a  right  to  promotion  will  never  admit 
another  over  his  head  upon  a  principle  of  merit.  You  are  not 
to  expect  that  every  body  will  subscribe  to  the  justice  of  your 
promotion.  You  must  content  yourself  with  having  obtained 
it,  and  that  no  man  is  without  his  enemies  but  a  fool.  I  am 
glad  to  hear  the  sentiments  of  the  public  are  so  flattering  to  the 
Southern  army.  The  Southern  States  have  acted  generously 


28 

by  me,  and  if  I  can  close  the  business  honorably  here,  I  shall 
feel  doubly  happy,  happy  for  the  people  and  happy  for  myself. 
I  think  the  public  are  not  a  little  indebted  for  our  exertions. 
The  Southern  States  were  lost,  they  are  now  restored;  the 
American  arms  were  in  disgrace,  they  are  now  in  high  reputa- 
tion. The  American  soldiery  were  thought  to  want  both 
patience  and  fortitude  to  contend  with  difficulties:  they  are 
now  remarkable  for  both.  That  sentiment  had  taken  deep  root 
in  Europe,  but  it  is  now  totally  changed.  Indeed,  the  change 
of  British  administration  is  in  a  great  degree  owing  to  our  efforts, 
and  the  consequences  resulting  from  them. 

"  I  hope  I  don't  arrogate  too  much  in  saying  this,  and  in 
saying  we  have  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  glory  of  the  nation 
and  the  American  arms.  I  find  by  a  Parliamentary  Register, 
that  there  were  18,000  troops  and  upwards,  in  the  Southern 
department  last  year,  besides  the  militia  which  acted  with  the 
enemy,  and  those  amounted  to  not  less  than  2,000,  exclusive 
of  the  negroes,  and  they  had  more  than  1,000  of  them  on  the 
different  military  departments  of  the  army.  This  includes  Lord 
Cornwallis'  army  in  Virginia.  At  the  time  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
was  fought  by  the  enemy,  from  returns  laid  before  Parliament, 
it  appears  they  had  in  Charleston  and  in  their  advanced  army, 
6,700  men  fit  for  duty,  besides  all  the  militia  and  negroes. 
What  an  amazing  difference  between  their  force  and  ours ! 
From  these  authorities,  I  find  our  operations  were  much  more 
glorious  than  ever  we  considered  them." 

Gen.  Greene  and  Gen.  Williams  were  equally  zealous  in  de- 
fending each  other's  reputation,  and  at  a  later  period  when 
Greene  himself  was  made  the  subject  of  animadversion,  Williams 
defends  him  in  a  strain  of  indignation  and  sarcasm,  in  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  Maj.  Edwards: 

' '  The  late  revolution  in  South  Carolina  is  owing  not  only  to 
a  change  of  circumstances,  but  to  a  change  of  men  in  the  gov- 
ernment of  that  country.  How  daringly  impudent  it  is  for 
those  who  have  been  rescued  from  misery  and  dejection,  to 
arraign  the  virtue  that  saved  them.  Gen.  Greene  exercised  a 
superior  judgment,  changed  the  system  of  military  operations  in 
that  country,  and  used  the  only  possible  means  of  recovering  it — 


29 

and  dare  the  ingrates  now  accuse  him  of  any  interested  design,  or 
any  view  of  ambition,  other  than  that  which  receives  its  highest 
gratification  from  the  thanks  and  approbation  of  a  free  people? 
And  do  the  devils  dare  to  treat  with  neglect  and  contempt  that 
little  corps  of  gallant  men  who  saved  them  from  despair  and 
slavery?  Their  ingratitude  proves  manifestly,  how  well  they 
deserved  the  chains  which  have  been  taken  off  their  necks. 
There  are  many  sensible,  amiable  characters  in  Carolina,  but  I 
always  feared  the  majority  were  envious,  jealous,  malicious, 
designing,  unprincipled  people.  Come  one,  come  all  of  you 
away  and  leave  them.  I  am  glad  to  hear  the  Northern  troops 
are  returning.  Though  I  cannot  flatter  myself  with  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  them  rewarded  as  they  deserve,  there  will  be  something 
done  for  them,  they  will  not  starve  on  the  same  fields  in  which 
they  have  bled." 

It  will  not  be  of  purpose  to  dwell  much  longer  upon  the  sub- 
ject before  us,  for  Gen.  Williams  did  not  live  many  years  more 
to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  hard  toil.  He  settled  in  Baltimore  and 
was  appointed  to  the  collectorship  of  the  port,  by  the  Governor  of 
the  State,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  with  the  same  exem- 
plary fidelity  which  had  attended  his  military  career.  When  the 
Federal  Constitution  was  adopted,  he  was  re-appointed  to  the 
same  office,  which  he  continued  to  hold  as  long  as  he  lived. 
In  1786,  he  was  happily  married  to  the  second  daughter  of 
Mr.  William  Smith,  a  very  wealthy  and  influential  merchant, 
and  his  union  was  productive  of  the  complete  felicity  he  so  well 
deserved.  His  habits  of  industry,  economy  and  method,  joined 
to  the  lucrative  office  he  held,  enabled  him  among  much  other 
property,  to  buy  the  old  home  of  his  father,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac,  which  in  the  midst  of  the  battle  field's  "dreadful 
array/'  he  had  so  often  fondly  returned  to  in  imagination. 
Here  he  was  pleasantly  employed  in  improving  the  condition  of 
the  farm,  and  in  laying  out  the  present  town  of  "  Williamsport," 
called  after  his  own  name.  It  was  at  one  time  thought  that  the 
seat  of  government  would  be  at  Williamsport,  and  there  are 
several  letters  from  the  General's  brother  on  the  subject,  and 
written  in  a  very  hopeful  strain:  one  of  great  length  detailing 
an  account  of  Gen.  Washington's  visit  to  Springfield's  farm, 


30 

(for  such  is  its  name,)  with  speculations  on  the  site  of  the 
Federal  seat.  On  this  letter  Gen.  Williams  has  endorsed  the 
words  "All  a  Hum,"  and  Williamsport  has  remained  to  this 
day,  rather  a  village  than  a  city  of  magnificent  distances. 

The  health  of  Gen.  Williams  became  much  impaired,  and 
disease  attacked  his  lungs,  but  he  still  continued  his  duties. 
He  had  many  friends  in  and  out  of  the  army,  and  he  delighted 
to  keep  up  a  correspondence  with  them.  None  thought  more 
highly  of  him  as  a  soldier  and  a  man,  than  Washington,  and 
such  names  as  Greene,  Knox,  Lincoln,  Lee,  Steuben,  Kosciusko, 
and  many  more,  form  those  of  intimate  and  tried  associates. 
Nor  was  he  less  solicitous  to  preserve  unbroken  friendship  with 
many  unknown  to  fame,  and  with  a  large  family  circle.  The 
wealth  that  he  acquired  was  liberally  dispensed,  and  his  bounty 
was  always  readily  extended  to  the  deserving.  To  his  brother 
he  says  in  one  of  his  letters — "Whatever  is  mine  in  Maryland 
is  yours,  and  I  really  don't  know  what  you  mean  by  my  money 
in  your  hands."  So  highly  was  he  esteemed  by  Gen.  Wash- 
ington; that  in  1792,  on  the  refusal  of  Gen.  Morgan  to  accept 
the  actual  rank  of  Brigadier  General,  Gen.  Knox  being  then 
Secretary  of  War,  wrote  to  Williams  that  the  President  would 
be  highly  pleased  to  appoint  him  to  the  post,  which  would  make 
him  the  eldest  Brigadier  General,  and  second  in  command,  and 
he  was  accordingly  actually  so  nominated.  But  this  honor  he 
positively  declined  in  several  letters  to  the  President  and  Secre- 
tary Knox,  on  account  of  ill  health  and  family  duties;  and  he 
also  adds  that  it  would  be  no  stimulus  to  his  ambition  to  be 
second  in  command.  His  illness  still  increasing  upon  him,  he 
was  induced  in  1793  to  try  the  effect  of  sea  air,  and  a  voyage  to 
Barbadoes  had  some  benefit,  but  of  very  short  duration. 

And  now  the  light  which  he  created  and  shed  around  him,  was 
to  be  withdrawn  from  those  who  looked  as  upon  the  rainbow's 
glories  after  a  stormy  day;  for  just  as  they  were  encircled  by  its 
arch  of  splendor,  in  radiant  promise  of  sunny  skies,  they  beheld 
its  brilliant  hues  melting  into  air,  as  the  luminary  whence  they 
emanated  sunk  solemnly  from  their  sight.  In  the  next  year, 
1794,  while  on  his  way  to  the  Sweet  Springs,  in  Virginia,  on 
reaching  the  little  town  of  Woodstock,  he  became  too  ill  to  pro- 


31 

ceed  farther,  and  on  the  16th  of  July,  at  the  early  age  of  45,  he 
died.  He  was  prepared;  he  had  lived  the  full  measure  of  his 
fame;  his  life  had  been  glorious  and  happy;  he  had  shrunk 
from  no  responsibility;  he  had  feared  nothing  but  to  do  wrong; 
he  had  gained  "honor,  love,  obedience,  troops  of  friends,"  and 
when  at  last  he  met  the  unconquerable  foe,  it  was  with  the 
same  calm  courage  and  reliance  on  a  higher  power,  that  had 
been  his  trust  when  he  had  rushed  into  mortal  battle. 

He  left  an  ample  fortune  to  his  four  sons,  and  committed 
them  to  their  mother's  father,  saying  in  his  will,  that  he  could 
do  so  with  entire  trust,  "  as  soon  as  it  should  please  Heaven  to 
remove  him  from  that  endearing  office."  In  the  eloquent 
language  of  the  Spaniard,  himself  a  soldier  as  well  as  a  poet, 

"As  thus  the  dying  warrior  prayed, 
Without  one  gathering  mist  or  shade 

Upon  his  mind; 
Encircled  by  his  family, 
Watched  by  affection's  gentle  eye 

So  soft  and  kind — 

"His  soul  to  him  who  gave  it,  rose: 
God  lead  it  to  its  long  repose, 

Its  glorious  rest! 

And  though  the  warrior's  sun  is  set, 
Its  light  shall  linger  round  us  yet, 

Bright,  radiant,  blest." 

On  the  banks  of  the  lordly  Potomac  his  remains  repose,  be- 
neath a  simple  monument  crowning  the  summit  of  a  hill,  over- 
looking a  wild  expanse  of  waving  woods  and  pleasant  fields, 
and  distant  mountains,  which  he  once  delighted  to  look  upon. 
The  setting  sun  sheds  its  glories  over  that  peaceful  landscape; 
the  river  flows  calmly  by  many  a  pleasant  village,  by  the  marble 
palaces  of  the  busy  Metropolis,  and  by  the  tomb  of  him  who  has 
given  it  his  name.  Heroes,  patriots  and  friends,  both  sleep  by 
the  same  river;  both  firm  hi  love  of  peace  but  hatred  of 
tyranny,  and  both  spared  to  be  cheered  by  the  smiles  of  their 
country,  whose  battles  they  had  fought  while  she  pined  in  fetters 
and  in  teal's. 


